acrx20230509_8k.htm
false 0001427925 0001427925 2023-05-10 2023-05-10
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 10, 2023
 
ACELRX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
001-35068
 
41-2193603
(State of incorporation)
 
(Commission File No.)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
25821 Industrial Boulevard, Suite 400
Hayward, CA 94545
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (650) 216-3500
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act
 
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 par value
ACRX
The Nasdaq Global Market
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
 
Emerging growth company
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
 
 

 
Item 2.02
Results of Operations and Financial Condition
 
On May 10, 2023, AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and providing a corporate update (the “Release”). A copy of the Release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.
 
The information contained in this Item 2.02 and in Exhibit 99.1 shall be deemed to be furnished and shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). The information contained in this Item 2.02 and in Exhibit 99.1 shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act made by the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
 
 
Item 9.01         Financial Statements and Exhibits
 
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
 
1
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
Date: May 10, 2023
ACELRX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:
/s/ Raffi Asadorian
Raffi Asadorian
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
2
ex_517516.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/ca783e931a811889e9c6ef91e5587607-logo01.jpg

 

 

 

AcelRx Pharmaceuticals Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

 

 

Request for Emergency Use Authorization of Niyad submitted to the FDA in April

 

Divestment of DSUVIA® to Alora Pharmaceuticals closed April 3, 2023

 

$13.4 million in cash as of March 31, 2023

 

Webcast and conference call to be held today at 4:30 p.m. EDT

 

 

HAYWARD, Calif., May 10, 2023 -- AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACRX), (AcelRx), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for use in medically supervised settings, today reported its first quarter 2023 financial results and provided a corporate update.

 

“We have embarked on a new AcelRx chapter by closing the DSUVIA transaction and submitting the request for an Emergency Use Authorization for Niyad,” stated Vince Angotti, Chief Executive Officer of AcelRx. “We’re very excited about the prospects for Niyad following interactions with key opinion leaders during our latest advisory board meeting. Feedback from this meeting, combined with data from our recently completed 150-physician market research study highlight the urgent need for an alternative anticoagulant for in-hospital dialysis and support our submission of a request for an EUA. Our focus is now on initiating the FDA-informed single registrational study for Niyad, expected in the second half of this year. We have agreed upon terms for the supply of the active pharmaceutical ingredient and, through our contract manufacturer, have already made finished product that has met all stability specifications to date,” continued Angotti.

 

 

 

2023 First Quarter and Recent Corporate Highlights

 

On April 27, 2023, AcelRx submitted a request for an EUA for Niyad and responded to previous questions outlined by the FDA in a prior EUA submission made by Lowell Therapeutics. AcelRx’s submission included information on nafamostat mesylate, the API in Niyad, and the finished drug product, including stability testing data and a process validation protocol, amongst other items requested by the FDA.

 

On April 3, 2023, AcelRx announced the closing of the divestment of its FDA-approved drug, DSUVIA to Alora Pharmaceuticals (Alora). The agreement allows AcelRx to participate in the long-term value expected to be created by Alora as they expand the commercialization of DSUVIA. The agreement provides AcelRx with a 15% royalty on commercial sales of DSUVIA, a 75% royalty on sales of DSUVIA to the Department of Defense (DoD), DSUVIA’s single largest customer, and up to $116.5 million in sales-based milestones. AcelRx will provide, and be reimbursed for, transition services during a period of up to 6 months post-closing. In exchange for the 75% royalty on net sales to the DoD, AcelRx will lead the relationship to ensure continued engagement and expected expansion of sales to the DoD.

 

First Quarter 2023 Financial Information

 

The cash and cash equivalents balance was $13.4 million as of March 31, 2023.

 

Combined R&D and SG&A expenses for the first quarter of 2023 totaled $5.3 million compared to $4.9 million for the first quarter of 2022. Excluding non-cash stock-based compensation expense, these amounts were $4.8 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $4.3 million for the first quarter of 2022. The increase in combined R&D and SG&A expenses in the first quarter of 2023 was primarily due to legal costs related to the divestment of DSUVIA and Niyad-related research and development costs.  

 

The divestment of DSUVIA represents a discontinued operation; accordingly, all historical operating results for the business are reflected within discontinued operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, we recognized an impairment on net assets held for sale of $7.0 million and a loss from discontinued operations of $1.2 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we recognized a loss from discontinued operations of $4.1 million.

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders for the first quarter of 2023 was $8.2 million, or $0.75 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $8.7 million, or $1.19 per basic and diluted share, for the first quarter of 2022.

 

Webcast Information and Conference Call Information
As previously announced, AcelRx management will host a live webcast and conference call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time/1:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on May 10, 2023 to discuss the financial results and provide an update on the Company's business.

 

The webcast can be accessed here or by visiting the "Investors" section of the Company's website at www.acelrx.com and clicking on the webcast link within the News & Events/Upcoming Events section. The webcast will include a slide presentation and a replay will be available on the AcelRx website for 90 days following the event.

 

Investors who wish to participate in the conference call may do so by dialing 1-866-361-2335 for domestic callers, 1-855-669-9657 for Canadian callers, 1-412-902-4204 (toll applies) for international callers. The conference ID is 10177890.

 

About Nafamostat
Nafamostat is a broad spectrum, synthetic serine protease inhibitor with anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and potential anti-viral activities. Niyad™ is a lyophilized formulation of nafamostat and is currently being studied under an investigational device exemption, or IDE, as an anticoagulant for the extracorporeal circuit, and has received Breakthrough Device Designation Status from the FDA. A request for an Emergency Use Authorization has been submitted to the FDA for Niyad. LTX-608 is a proprietary nafamostat formulation for direct IV infusion that will be investigated and developed as a potential anti-viral for the treatment of COVID, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and acute pancreatitis.

 

About AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for use in medically supervised settings. AcelRx's lead product candidate, Niyad is a lyophilized formulation of nafamostat and is currently being studied under an investigational device exemption, or IDE, as an anticoagulant for the extracorporeal circuit, and has received Breakthrough Device Designation Status from the FDA. AcelRx is also developing two pre-filled syringes in-licensed from its partner Aguettant: Fedsyra™, a pre-filled ephedrine syringe, with an expected NDA filing in the first half of 2023, and PFS-02, a pre-filled phenylephrine syringe with an expected NDA filing in 2024. This release is intended for investors only. For additional information about AcelRx, please visit www.acelrx.com.

 

 

 

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements based upon AcelRx's current expectations. These and any other forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "potential," "believe," "expect," "expects," "expected," "anticipate," "may," "will," "enable," "should," "seek," "approximately," "intends," "intended," "plans," "planned," "planning," "estimates," "benefits," or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. The discussion of financial trends, strategy, plans or intentions may also include forward-looking statements, which are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied by such statements, including: (i) risks relating to AcelRx's product development activities and ongoing commercial business operations; (ii) risks related to the ability of AcelRx and its business partners to implement development plans, launch plans, forecasts and other business expectations; (iii) risks related to unexpected variations in market growth and demand for AcelRx's commercial and developmental products and technologies; (iv) risks related to AcelRx's liquidity and our ability to maintain capital resources sufficient to conduct the required clinical studies; (v) AcelRx's ability to retaining its listing on the Nasdaq exchange; and (vi) risks relating to AcelRx’s ability to obtain regulatory approvals for our developmental product candidates. Although it is not possible to predict or identify all such risks and uncertainties, they may include, but are not limited to, those described under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in AcelRx's annual, quarterly and current reports (i.e., Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K) as filed or furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and any subsequent public filings. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date such statements were first made. To the degree financial information is included in this press release, it is in summary form only and must be considered in the context of the full details provided in AcelRx's most recent annual, quarterly or current report as filed or furnished with the SEC. AcelRx's SEC reports are available at www.acelrx.com under the "Investors" tab. Except to the extent required by law, AcelRx undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

Investor Contacts:

AcelRx

Raffi Asadorian, CFO
650-216-3500
investors@acelrx.com

 

LifeSci Advisors

Kevin Gardner
617-283-2856
kgardner@lifesciadvisors.com

 

Chris Calabrese
917-680-5608
ccalabrese@lifesciadvisors.com

 

 

 

###

 

 

 

 

 

Selected Financial Data

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31

 
   

2023

   

2022

 

Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) Data

               
                 

Operating costs and expenses:

               

Research and development (1)

  $ 1,047     $ 836  

Selling, general and administrative (1)

    4,281       4,100  

Total operating costs and expenses

    5,328       4,936  

Loss from operations

    (5,328 )     (4,936 )
                 

Other income (expense):

               

Interest expense

    (119 )     (390 )

Interest income and other income (expense), net

    5,511       38  

Non-cash interest income on liability related to sale of future royalties

    -       673  

Total other income (expense)

    5,392       321  

Net income (loss) from continuing operations

  $ 64     $ (4,615 )

Net loss from discontinued operations

    (8,216 )     (4,059 )

Net loss

  $ (8,152 )   $ (8,674 )
                 

Net income (loss) per share attributable to stockholders:

               

Basic and diluted, continuing operations

  $ -     $ (0.63 )

Basic and diluted, discontinued operations

  $ (0.75 )   $ (0.56 )

Basic and diluted loss per share

  $ (0.75 )   $ (1.19 )
                 

Shares used in computing net loss per common share, basic and diluted

    10,894       7,281  
                 

(1) Includes the following non-cash stock-based compensation expense:

               
                 

Research and development

  $ 93     $ 174  

Selling, general and administrative

    457       464  

Discontinued operations

    19       145  

Total

  $ 569     $ 783  

 

 

 

Selected Balance Sheet Data

(in thousands)

 

   

March 31, 2023

   

December 31, 2022(1)

 
   

(Unaudited)

         

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments

  $ 13,353     $ 20,770  

Total assets

    26,292       47,487  

Total liabilities

    12,050       25,673  

Total stockholders' equity

    14,242       21,814  

 

(1) Derived from the audited financial statements as of that date included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

 

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Operating expenses less stock-based compensation expense)

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31

 
   

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Operating expenses (GAAP):

               

Research and development

  $ 1,047     $ 836  

General and administrative

    4,281       4,100  

Total operating expenses

    5,328       4,936  

Less stock-based compensation expense

    550       638  

Operating expenses (non-GAAP)

  $ 4,778     $ 4,298